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The partners of players are always a hot topic when the World Cup rolls around.
Back in 2006 when the abbreviation ‘WAG’ was first coined, Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Tweedy and Co found their names in the headlines more than the stars of England’s golden generation.
At the Three Lions camp that summer in Baden-Baden, Germany, reports of drug scandals, £57,000 shopping sprees and the girls drunk-dancing on tables captured the interest of the nation.
In fact, so bad was the WAGs’ behaviour that they were banned from staying at the team hotel in South Africa four years later. Not that, of course, it made much of a difference to the outcome on the pitch.
This summer, as England’s stars bid to end 60 years of hurt across the pond, their WAGs aren’t causing quite so much controversy. The same cannot however be said about the Three Lions’ fiercest rivals.
Yet it’s not the players’ partners who are reportedly causing trouble at the Germans’ North Carolina training base. It’s the manager’s.
Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann and his girlfriend Lena Wurzenberger began dating in 2022 – and have been nearly inseparable since
But Wurzenberger is reported be causing quite the stir over at the German camp in North Carolina
As the Germans gear up for their second World Cup match against Ivory Coast on Saturday night, Julian Nagelsmann’s girlfriend Lena Wurzenberger has been an almost constant presence around the camp, according to Bild.
The 34-year-old ex-journalist is said to have caused ‘quite a stir’ amongst the squad after being ‘more present than probably any national team’s coach before her’.
She was first spotted at Germany’s pre-tournament camp in Frankfurt, when she was pictured watching training from a balcony along with a host of the players’ partners.
But earlier this week – after her boyfriend’s side thumped Curacao 7-1 – Wurzenberger hung around to watch the German substitutes complete their warm down.
It was then reported that she accompanied Nagelsmann back to the team hotel, before the duo were seen cycling to training together the following morning.
Wurzenberger is even expected to sit directly behind the German dugout on Saturday when they take on Ivory Coast across the border in Toronto.
According to BILD, ‘no Deutschland First Lady has ever been so visible’.
And this, for the players, is seemingly becoming an issue.
She was pictured (left) at the German pre-tournament base in Frankfurt earlier this month, and has been almost ever-present at their American camp
Nagelsmann has been known to climb into the stands to give Wurzenberger a kiss after victories
‘There is naturally always that feeling that when the boss’s wife is in the room, you might not always be completely honest at the table when talking about the national coach,’ local reporters have speculated.
Wurzenberger, and indeed Nagelsmann, have also incited criticism from Germany legend Lothar Matthaus, who admitted her constant presence is far from ‘ideal’.
The midfielder, who earned 150 caps, said on German television: ‘She just shouldn’t appear in the pictures too often – that wouldn’t be ideal in my opinion.
‘The players have days off and their families can come to the hotel. Lena (Wurzenberger) did that too. From my perspective, I think it’s perfectly normal.
‘Lena was able to come to the hotel just like the players’ girlfriends and wives. You can see the solidarity – but the rule shouldn’t apply to the coach. It has to happen during the time when we players are seeing their families.’
Nagelsmann and Wurzenberger are reported to have started dating soon after he split from his ex-wife Verena, following 15 years together, in 2022.
At that point Nagelsmann was manager of German giants Bayern Munich – and his new love interest reported on the club for Bild.
An article from the publication announcing their romance read: ‘Julian Nagelsmann loves Bild reporter’.
The couple first met when she was a Bayern Munich reporter for Bild and Nagelsmann was the manager
But it was soon reported that their relationship was causing trouble in the dressing room, and not long later Nagelsmann was sacked
Whether Wurzenberger can be the Germans’ lucky charm this summer remains to be seen. But, if she is, expect to see her and Nagelsmann sharing a kiss or two at the Houston Stadium
But it wasn’t long before the Munich manager’s new love interest started to cause trouble.
A short time before Nagelsmann was axed in March 2023, leaks from the Munich dressing room began appearing in Bild.
There is no evidence to suggest those leaks came from Wurzenberger, but they did little to ease the scrutiny surrounding his relationship with the reporter and, within weeks, it was announced that she had left her role.
Instead, she would serve as a police reporter in Munich. Eventually, she left her role as a journalist completely to take up a job as a communications officer at BMW.
Since then, the couple have appeared almost inseparable.
After victories, Nagelsmann has been known to climb into the stands to share a kiss with Wurzenberger, who is usually donning a German top and flags painted across her cheeks.
German football’s so-called First Lady will no doubt be in the stands again on Saturday as her country look to secure their place in the World Cup knockout stages.
Whether she can be the their lucky charm remains to be seen. But, if she is, expect to see her and Nagelsmann sharing a kiss or two at the Houston Stadium.
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